Covenant Member Update: August 2024

Church Family,

I want to share a principle that our ministry residents studied this summer. Its implications are helping me see the beautiful work God is doing in our church body!

What does it mean for a human person to flourish? What is required to experience the “life and life to the full” Jesus has designed for us? Over the summer, our Ministry Residents worked through Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch. In his brief book, Crouch holds up the earthly ministry of Jesus—culminating in the cross and resurrection—as not only the means to our flourishing, but also a paradigm for our own life and leadership. It is through carrying both authority (“capacity for meaningful action”) and vulnerability (“exposure to meaningful risk”) into the places and relationships God has called us that others are invited into fuller expressions of the life God has made us for. This is what it means to flourish.

If we are looking, we can see this in the way of creation. A newborn child enters the world with complete vulnerability and essentially no authority. The mother, in her authority, chooses vulnerability by giving birth and nurturing and nourishing the baby with her own body. As time goes on, it is only through her and others with authority making themselves vulnerable that the child learns things, gains new skills, receives opportunities, and eventually matures into an adult with his or her own appropriate authority. It is only through authority and vulnerability that the child may flourish.

As in all good things, Jesus is the chief example. Each of us enters the world confined by our sin nature, deaf to the voice of God, and in a state of utter spiritual vulnerability. In response, God—the One with all authority—chose incarnation, humbling Himself as a human servant condemned to die on the cross (the height of vulnerability!) in order to bring us back to God our Father (Phil. 2:5-11). This is the only way we are released from the bondage of sin and freed to worship God—to truly flourish. And so this principle emerges: When those with authority carry it with vulnerability (again, this is “exposure to meaningful risk”), others are invited to enjoy an increasingly flourishing life.

As I reflect on the last 12 months at Park Church, I’m struck by how often this dynamic has been expressed through our church family. We have welcomed people who are new to the country, new to the city, new to the church, and new to membership. Dozens of you have found ways to meet tangible needs within our church by joining a team or simply jumping in where opportunity arose. Countless conversations about Jesus have taken place in neighborhoods and in everyday relationships. People have come to faith in Jesus. We went on mission trips and hosted mission partners. You all have demonstrated such beautiful financial generosity. Our church leapt at the opportunity to leverage resources to care for the migrant community in our midst. Numerous new Gospel Community leaders have pursued training and started groups. Theological studies were hosted. Late night discussions were abundant. New friendships emerged. Getting honest with our lives became more normal. Parenting moments were worked through. Mentors stepped in with a younger generation. The examples are manifold, and each of you could list a baker’s dozen more.

The point, I hope, is clear. God is at work in and through us. We are certainly far from perfect, but praise be to God that He brings about His sweet purposes through an imperfect people as we learn to look to Him for our every need. All this makes me deeply grateful. And it makes me excited for what’s ahead.

As you dream about the future of our church family, what comes to the foreground? What might mark the next season that we are receiving from the Lord? Whatever this looks like, may the conclusion of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 ever be on our lips: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask of think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (v. 20–21).

With gratitude and anticipation,

Neil Long
Executive Pastor

Financial Update